Solo, Central Java (ANTARA) - Minister of Youth and Sports Dito Ariotedjo emphasized on Sunday that Indonesia’s disabled athletes must aim for higher achievements in the Paralympic Games.
"PON (National Sports Week) should be oriented toward the Olympics, or at least the Asian Games. Similarly, Peparnas must be oriented toward the Paralympics, or at least the Asian Para Games," he said, referring to the 2024 National Paralympic Week, scheduled for October 6-13.
Ariotedjo stressed that the country's disabled athletes should pursue greater targets, especially after ranking first in the medal tally at the ASEAN Para Games in 2017, 2022, and 2023.
To support this, the government, along with the National Paralympic Committee of Indonesia, is aligning its programs to ensure Peparnas meets the goals set for the Paralympics.
"Peparnas should serve as an opportunity to scout and train the best athletes," he said.
Ariotedjo noted that one of the government's serious efforts to improve the performance of disabled athletes is the construction of a Paralympic training center in Karanganyar, Central Java.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the training center was led by President Joko Widodo on March 8. As of August, 40 percent of the construction has been completed, with the first phase expected to be finished by December. Additionally, the government has included the Paralympics in the National Sports Grand Design (DBON). Five Paralympic sports are part of this grand design: athletics, swimming, badminton, table tennis, and powerlifting.
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Ariotedjo called for support from all parties to help Indonesia continue winning medals in the Paralympics. At the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games, Indonesia won a total of 14 medals: one gold, eight silver, and five bronze.
This year’s total marks the highest number of medals Indonesia has ever won since first participating in the multi-sport event in 1976.
Overall, Indonesia has secured 41 medals in the Paralympics, consisting of seven gold, 15 silver, and 19 bronze.
